Google Maps Re-Launched in China after Eight Years

Google Maps service is now available in China. No doubt it’s a major return of Google to China. Since 2010, Google Maps along with most of Google’s other popular services have been banned in the major markets of China. Google Maps Re-Launched in China after Eight Years.

Chinese internet users can now easily use Google Maps after eight years of the service being tightly restricted. However, other major services of Google’s company are still not available in China, such as Google Search and YouTube.

Google Maps Re-Launched in China after Eight Years

Re-launched of Google Maps for China did not happen via same app as we have in the rest of the world. Most people will access it via a web page, but iPhones get an app.

Taj Meadows, head of Google’s policy communications in the Asia Pacific said:

There have been no changes to Google Maps in China, Google Maps have been accessible on desktop for years, but do not have an official presence in Android or iOS app stores in China.

One thing which could explain Google’s return to China with Maps is that the Chinese government is reportedly interested in advancing machine learning technologies that could power self-driving vehicles. That’s something Google has been working toward for years. But the Chinese government and Google are still unlikely to agree on requirements for services like search and YouTube.